Illuminated display sign



July 7, 1942. A. LANE, JR

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN Filed Aug. l0, 1940 Patented July 7, 1942 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN Asher Lane, Jr., Topeka, Kans.

Application August 10, 1940, Serial No. 352,144

Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in illuminated display sign.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a changeable display sign removably mounted in a casing which may be held in place by a closure at the top of the casing capable of swinging over the entire upper edge of the casing so that the cover when in place may be slid to a locked position and embrace the front wall of the casing for the purpose of protecting the upper edge thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a changeable sign of the above mentioned character in which a housing is formed at the lower end of the casing for receiving a lumiline lamp whereby a luminescent light will be projected on the sign and produce a pleasing eifect.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vide a novelly constructed lamp socket support carried in the housing at the lower end of the sign whereby the lamp may be easily removed and replaced upon breakage by merely raising the transparent front wall of the casing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention, taken with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the sign and card holder embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a detail side elevational View of the sign holderillustrating the adjustable bracket supporting members at the opposite sides thereof;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1, looking in th direction of the arrows, illustrating in detail the arrangement of the casing parts;

Figure 4 is a detail cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the manner in which the lumiline light is supported in the casing; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, further illustrating the supporting socket members at each end of the lumiline light.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and wherein like reference characters will be employed to designate like parts throughout the same, the reference character 5 will generally be employed to designate a sign constructed of metal frame members and said sign includes a rear imperiorate wall 6 having a relatively wide bottom wall I connected thereto by means of an offset portion 8. A short wall 9 connects the bottom wall 'l to the oiiset portion 8 of the rear wall, thereby forming an elongated housing at the bottom of the sign. The bottom I is provided with a front wall Il connected to the bottom wall 1, also by means of an offset portion I2.

Extending upwardly from the bottom wall 1 at each end of the casing are side walls I3 for completely enclosing the housing III and providing relatively long end walls tapering toward the top of the casing. Secured to the inner side of the walls I3 of the housing I0 and extending from the top of the casing to the ledge 2| are side plates I4 and the front edge of the side plates and side walls I4 and I3 respectively are provided with ribs I5 and I6 between which may be slidably received a transparent pane Il.

Similar ribs AI8 are arranged at the back of the side plates I4 and are arranged in opposed relation for slidably receiving a sign card I9 having advertising matter, pictures or writing thereon.

The lower edge of the transparent panel I'I is adapted to engage a shelf 20 having a ange 2| formed on the front wall I I so that the ange 2| will engage in back of the ribs I6 and present a ledge or shelf upon which the lower edge of the transparent pane I'I may rest.

The upper end of the casing is adapted to be closed by a swinging and sliding top wall 22 having a downwardly extending skirt 23, the lower edge of which isl rolled as at 24 to form a tubular socket for receiving a hinge rod 26. Secured to the rear wall 6 of the casing adjacent each end is a plate 21 fastened in place by rivets or the like as at 2`8. Slotted side flanges 29 are formed on the plate 21 and are provided with attenuated openings 3U for receiving the hinge rod 26. The plate 23 is provided with slots 3| through which the upper portion of the side flanges 29 may project so that the skirt 23 may swing rearwardly after being moved upwardly to release the downwardly extending flange 33 formed on the forward edge of the top wall 22.

The slots 30 are slightly tapered so that as the hinge rod 26 is moved downwardly, the cover 22 will move into a locked position and said cover is provided with side portions 34 which embrace the side walls I4 of the casing.

A nishing strip 35 extends upwardly from the top wall 22 perpendicularly thereto and has its top edge curved as at 36 for presenting a neat appearance.

A coil spring 3l may encircle the hinge rod 36 so that the free ends 38 and 39 may engage the skirt 23 and rear wall 6 of the casing and normally urge the skirt 23 toward the casing so that the cover 22 will be projected forwardly.

Bolts 40 are secured to the side walls I4 of the casing and are adapted to extend through angle bar brackets 4| in slots 42 formed therein at the top and bottom thereof. Washers 43 are received on the bolts 4i] and the angle brackets 4l are held in position by wing nuts 44. The lower portions of the vertical angle brackets 4l are provided with web portions 45 suitably apertured as at 46 for receiving anchoring bolts or other fastening means so that the sign may-be attached to the top wall of cigarette or other Vending machines.

Mounted on the rear wall 9 of the housing I0 at each end thereof, are supporting blocks 41 held in place by a bolt 43 extending therethrough and passing through the rear wall 9 so that a nut 49 may be threaded thereon for securely holding the blocks 4l in place. Attached to the supporting blocks 4l is a lumiline light socket 5D having a cavity i for receiving the circular projection on the end connecting members 52 of the lumiline light 53. The lumiline light tube 53 is of usual construction and is provided at each end with the regular connecting blocks 52. A cable 54 may connect with the terminals 55 on each of the blocks 5G and the usual semi-circular leaf spring is mounted in the cavity 5| for resiliently holding the extension on the end block 52 in place.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be t-aken as a preferred embodiment of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A changeable sign comprising a casing having a horizontal opening in the top wall thereof, guide ribs formed in the casing for removably holding a sign. an inclined transparent front wall removably mounted in the casing, a tubular light source mounted in the lower end of the housing for projecting fused rays of light on the inclined transparent front wall so that the fused rays will be reflected on the sign and a cover for the horizontal opening at the top of the casing, said cover carrying flanges which enclose the upper edges of the walls of the casing, the rear flange of the cover having limited slidable hinged movements on elements on the rear wall of the casing, whereby the cover may be moved upwardly relative to the casing prior to rearwardly swinging action thereof for displacement thereof from said horizontal opening.

2. A changeable sign comprising a casing having a horizontal opening in the top thereof, guide ribs formed in the casing for removably holding a sign, an inclined transparent front wall removably mounted in the casing, a housing formed at the lower end of the casing, a shelf formed in the housing for supporting the lower inclined edge of the transparent wall, a tubular light source mounted in the housing so that light rays reflected by the inclined wall will illuminate the sign and a cover for the horizontal opening at the top of the casing, said cover carrying flanges which enclose the upper edges of the walls of the casing, the rear ange of the cover having limited slidable hinged movements on elements on the rear wall of the casing, whereby the cover may be moved upwardly relative to the casing prior to rearwardly swinging action thereof for displacement thereof from said horizontal opening.

3. A changeable sign comprising a casing having a horizontal opening in the top thereof, guide ribs formed in the casing for removably holding a sign, an inclined transparent front wall removably mounted in the casing, a housing formed at the lower portion of the casing having a shelf for supporting the front edge of the transparent wall, a tubular light source mounted in the housing adapted to project fused rays on theinclined transparent wall whereby said rays will be reflected on the sign and a cover for the horizontal opening at the top of the casing, said cover carrying anges which enclose the upper edges of the walls of the casing, the rear flange of the cover having limited slidable hinged movements on elements on the rear wall of the casing whereby the cover may be moved upwardly relative to the casing prior to rearwardly swinging action thereof for displacement thereof from said horizontal opening.

4. A changeable sign comprising a casing having a horizontal opening at the top of the casing,

, guide ribs formed on the side walls of the casing for removably holding a sign, an inclined transparent from wall removably mounted in the casing, a housing formed at the lower end of the casing, a tubular light source extending longitudinally of the housing for directing fused rays on the inclined transparent wall so that the fused rays will be reflected on the sign and a cover for the horizontal opening at the top of the casing, said cover carrying flanges which enclose the upper edges of the walls of the casing, the rear flange of the cover having limited slidable hinged movement on elements of the rear wall of the casing, whereby the cover may be moved upwardly relative to the casing prior to reaiwardly swinging action thereof for displacement thereof from said horizontal opening.

5. A changeable sign comprising a casing having a horizontal opening, guide ribs formed in the side walls of the casing, a sign removably mounted in the casing in a vertical position, a removably inclined transparent front wall mounted in the casing, a tubular light source mounted in the lower portion of the casing for projecting fused rays on the inclined front wall whereby the rays will be reflected on the sign, a pair of spaced lugs carried at each end of the rear wall of the casing having slots therein and a cover for the horizontal opening and a pintle carried by the cover extending longitudinally along one edge thereof operating in the slots formed in the slotted lugs.

ASHER LANE, J R. 

